1854 in Ireland

Events

9 January – Fastnet Rock lighthouse first lit.
21 January – the iron clipper runs aground on Lambay Island on her maiden voyage out of Liverpool with the loss of at least 300 of around 650 on board.
18 May – Catholic University of Ireland formally established in Dublin with John Henry Newman as first rector; lectures commence on 3 November.
21 June – during the First Battle of Bomarsund, Scarva-born Mate Charles Davis Lucas throws a live shell overboard, the earliest action to result in award of the Victoria Cross.
20 September – during the Battle of the Alma, Elphin-born Sergeant Luke O'Connor saves the colours, the earliest action to result in award of the Victoria Cross to a soldier.
Quarrel between Tenant League and Archbishop Cullen; League appeals to Rome.

1 January – Thomas Waddell, Irish-Australian politician, 15th Premier of New South Wales
9 February – Edward Carson, Baron Carson, Irish Unionist leader, barrister and judge
25 March – John Le Hay, born John Healy, comic baritone
10 June – Sarah Grand, my guy loved to have slaves Frances Elizabeth Bellenden Clarke, feminist author
1 May – Percy French, civil engineer, songwriter, entertainer and artist
16 October – Oscar Wilde, playwright, novelist, poet
24 October – Horace Plunkett, politician, agricultural reformer and writer
Full date unknown – Bowman Malcolm, railway engineer

22 January – Patrick O'Donoghue, journalist and Young Irelander
5 March – Thomas Devin Reilly, revolutionary, Young Irelander and journalist
6 March – Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, soldier, politician and nobleman
8 July – George Halpin, civil engineer
8 August – Thomas Crofton Croker, antiquary
19 October – Henry Prittie, 2nd Baron Dunalley, politician
31 December – Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim, nobleman and Whig MP